01-11-2009, 09:18 PM
Ralph - Looks VERY good ! 
Mills are just collections of industrial shells with a lot of stacks and pipes arranged to fit the real estate available. Most of the mills here could not be taken in, except from an overhead view, being sometimes miles long/hundreds of feet wide, and next to a river (around here). Rail transport within the plant was usually a dedicated railroad (Alliquippa & Southern, Union RR, etc.) employing special (non-interchange) equipment, and specially trained/qualified employees. Business was done with the serving common carrier via "yard" tracks for set-off and pick-up, usually near the main track. Clearances, tight curves, heat,and special hazards exclude most interchange cars, engines, and crews. It's sort of like any other customer who has (large or small) his OWN railroad. Your construct is Wonderful, very representative, and beautifully accomplished. 
Congrats !!!! Bob C.
Mills are just collections of industrial shells with a lot of stacks and pipes arranged to fit the real estate available. Most of the mills here could not be taken in, except from an overhead view, being sometimes miles long/hundreds of feet wide, and next to a river (around here). Rail transport within the plant was usually a dedicated railroad (Alliquippa & Southern, Union RR, etc.) employing special (non-interchange) equipment, and specially trained/qualified employees. Business was done with the serving common carrier via "yard" tracks for set-off and pick-up, usually near the main track. Clearances, tight curves, heat,and special hazards exclude most interchange cars, engines, and crews. It's sort of like any other customer who has (large or small) his OWN railroad. Your construct is Wonderful, very representative, and beautifully accomplished. Congrats !!!! Bob C.
James Thurber - "It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers."